DC Emancipation Day Mad Flavor TV Recap

Tamiko Thomas/MadFlavor TV
Photos by Michael X. Hawkins for X Vision Photography

DC Emancipation Day commemorates April 16, 1862, the day President Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862 which freed over 3100 enslaved persons in DC. The late ‘Mayor for Life’ Marion Barry proclaimed DC Emancipation Day as a holiday and in 2005, 20 years ago, Mayor Anthony Williams signed legislation officially making April 16^th a public holiday in the District of Columbia.

Sunday, April 13, the District of Columbia celebrated the 20^th Anniversary DC Emancipation Day at Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Avenue between 10^th & 14^th Street NW. The free family friendly fun filled day featured live performances, various food vendors, a game station, moon bounce and other activities for families as they gathered for a day of community and celebration.

The celebration was hosted by Deja Perez (MAGIC) & EZ Street (WHUR) and the legendary DJ Kool kept the crowd lively during transitions of the live performances. The concert featured Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir | Tim Bowman Jr & Faith City Music | Raheem Devaughn | Chante Moore | Black Alley & Anthony Hamilton.

Mad Flavor TV conducted interviews while asking the importance of celebrating DC Emancipation Day and participants agreed that NOW is a critical time to not just remember but to also come together as a community while remembering our ancestors and history. Check out the episode as we catch up with Anthony Hamilton, Chante Moore, Raheem Devaugn, Tim Bowman Jr, J’Ta and Scooby & Bootsy Vegas.

As Mayor Muriel Bowser continues to champion inclusive prosperity, DC Emancipation Day events celebrate DC’s progress in advancing racial equality, civil rights and amplify the importance of the continued fight for DC statehood. The celebration concluded with a beautiful firework display as the attendees departed happy and still singing.

APPEARANCES INCLUDED:

PERFORMANCES BY:

*Grammy Award Winning Recording Artist Anthony Hamilton

*NAACP Image Award Winning Recording Artist Chante Moore

*The Crank Crusaders featuring Grammy Nominated Recording Artist Raheem Devaughn

*Award Winning Black Alley

*Platinum Selling Recording Artist DJ Kool

*Grammy Nominated Recording Artist Tim Bowman Jr & Faith City Music

*Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir

*Wizards Dancers

SPECIAL THANKS to Mayor Muriel Bowser, LaToya Foster, Raymone Bain, Thomasina Perkins, DC Gov, OCTFME, DCDPW, DCPR and everyone made this event such a success!